Robert Weide followed the notoriously private Woody Allen over a year and a half to create the ultimate film biography. In this interview, find out how Weide gained access for filming and what he learned about Woody Allen’s creative process. Woody Allen: A Documentary premieres nationally Sunday, November 20 from 9-11 p.m. and Monday, November 21 from 9-10:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

I am really excited about this doc! I think Mr. Allen’s influence on contemporary filmmaking is very underrated. As an award-winning African-American writer/director/actor, my first film, “L.A. Proper”, was an attempted homage to Woody Allen. If you’re interested in seeing a tall an athletic black man ripping off Woody in a story set in Los Angeles, you can view “L.A. Proper” for free here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzpR7-HQZ78

I think a double feature with this new film and “Wild Man Blues” will be a perfect way to end the weekend!

Joshua Spodek

Thank you for a tremendous part 1.

Educational, touching, and inspirational. And funny. Amazing how scenes you’ve seen a million times can make you laugh or be sad.

Josh

ruth jordan

Part 1 was brilliant. This is how a documentary should be made … not in tiny sound bites but a careful exploration of a person’s character and work over time. Thank you. I look forward to this evening’s broadcast.

Ernie Frick

Bravo . . . an excellent story told in a most interesting and heart warming way. Thanks for a relaxing peek into the life of one of America’s best guys. . . Woody Allen.

Ernie Frick
Community-Audio-Theater.org

Matt Nagin

This was a great documentary. Visceral, insightful, and a real pleasure to watch. Woody Allen is a personal hero. His humbleness over his incredible productivity and contribution to the entertainment world in various capacities only makes him more endearing. Like many fans, I’ve seen all his movies and read several bios, but this documentary still provided a wealth of new information. If you have a pulse odds are you will enjoy.

Frank Lotz

I have just watched both parts of the documentary back to back and have found it to be way and above
the formulaic biiographies usually produced . When it was over I had a smile on my face from the excellent clips
used. I now feel I know more about the creative process of how his films were written and made then I could imagine that he would reveal.
Congratulations to Mr Weide and PBS.

Mark Blickley

Wonderful trajectory of Woody’s life and art as a storyteller. It’s hard to believe that anyone with as much talent and drive could also be as humble as this documentary portrays. Weide has done an extraordinary job and it’s easy to see why Woody trusted him enough to break his silence.

Maggie Gustavsen

Robert Weide’s documentary was wonderful. I’ve loved Woody Allen since “Take the Money and Run” and Mr. Weide’s film took me back to the year 1979 when my daughter Annie was born and why I named her Annie. My partner at the time and I had a relationship that mirrored Annie’s and Woody’s but by the time my daughter was born, my partner had died at the age of 35 in a fire. Woody’s “Annie” was charming,charismatic and almost innocent despite her wisdom. My daughter has been all of those since she was born and is still so at the age of 31.My partner,by the way, thought our relationship more closely was mirrored by Rene Taylor and Joe Montegne in”Made for Each Other”.If Mr. Allen reads this by some chance, I’ll bet he’ll get a laugh out of comparing the couple in “Annie Hall” to the couple i n “Made for Each Other.”

Charles Shulak

I’ve just finished watching this excellent documentary. I am few years younger than Mr. Allen, OK, more than a few and have followed his features since day one. Over the years I think I have seen all his films which I know is a rather trite thing to say, but it’s true. I have been writing a blog over the course of the last year and have heard, more times than I care to mention, “you should do something with it.” After watching the progress of Woody Allen’s professional career I wish I could, and know why I never will.

David Applebaum

Will there be a Part 2 on American Masters?

Carey

PLEASE REPEAT THE WOODY ALLEN, American Masters broadcast on Comcast…Central New Jersey

Lana

Please repeat the Woody Allen documentary. I missed part 2.

Jim Donovan

Why, in nyc, would this only be on tonight right now, started at 1AM, and not again? Also, why is it not available on this websight to watch? Of all artists, this man has done more for NYC than anyone else, because 955 of his films were filmed in ny, were about nyc, and showed somwe of the more interesting things in the streets of ny, including architecture. I understand it was shopwn in November. But with all the channels available with cable, dont you think we as the public deserve more chances to see this documentary on the best filmmaker ever? Surely, his films have been great most of the time, diverse as can be, and yet if not making huge money, they vanish fast from the theaters. He refusese to add anyhting onto a dvd beyond the film itslef, and to this, apart from his family problems 15 yrs ago, the city is interested in his work.

Please shpw it more, and make it available to see here on this beloved site!

American Masters Funding

American Masters is made possible by the support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding for American Masters is provided by Rosalind P. Walter, Rhoda Herrick, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, Vital Projects Fund, Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation, Rolf and Elizabeth Rosenthal, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Jack Rudin, The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, and public television viewers.